Shipping container cover lock



July 24, 1951 w. c. GEORGE SHIPPING CONTAINER COVER LOCK Filed May l1, 1950 mvENToR;

WALTER C. GEORGE HIS ATTORNEYS Patented July 24, 195'1 SHIPPING CONTAINER COVER LOCK Walter C. George, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to Gaylord Container' Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Marylandr Application May 11, 1950, Serial No. 161,363

9 Claims. (ci. zzo-45) This invention relates to improvements in shipping containers, particularhr those used for shipment of fruits and vegetables and has among its objects the construction of such a container that will be neat and simple in appearance, sturdy in construction, which may be packed and re-packed in an economical, speedy and simple manner, will be safe for the shipment of the various commodities, and which will be otherwise satisfactory for use wherever deemed applicable.

One of the important objects of this invention is to provide in a shipping container of the kind described a cover lock that will have a minimum number of parts and wherein the locking of the container after loading. as well as a relocking of the container after opening of the box, is relatively simple and speedy'.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cover lock of the kind described, wherein one of the elements ofthe lock is pre-assembled with one of the box elements so as to be operably retained in place thereon until needed at the time of loading. so that said locking element is always ready at hand.

An added object of my invention is to provide a shipping container of the kind described wherein there is the maximum elimination of separate steps in handling of such packages. This feature becomes relatively important when it is remembered that such packing is primarily on a production line basis and is considered to be a high-speed operation, wherein time is of the essence.

Still another object of my invention is to so construct a shipping container of the kind described that the bottom member of the same will have a tab formed thereon for cooperation with certain parts of the top member, so that after the container is loaded said tab may be rapidly actuated into place at the time that the cover is put into its closed position-and the lock is then quickly and securely applied.

Many objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, as will be apparent from the disclosures herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, combination of parts and the construction herein shown and described, as will be more clearly pointed out in the following speciflcation.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters represent like or corresponding parts through the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box, as seen in locked position;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse cross-section therethrough, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal crosssectional detail, taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a perspective view'of the box, with the top member in position to be lowered onto the bottom member for closure of the box; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, showing the wire as carried unitary with the box top.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention there is shown a box or container that is specifically designed for the packing and shipping of fruit and vegetables, although it is to be noted at this point that this invention is equally applicable to other Aforms and types of packages.

'should be possible to do so in an economical;

speedy and simple manner.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the body section A of the container consists of a body comprising a bottom panel I with marginal flaps 2 forming a pair of opposed side walls with extensions 2 of said marginal aps 2 folded inwardly in substantial abutting relation to form a pair of upstanding end walls. Marginal flaps 3 also projecting from bottom panel I are folded upward on the outer face of end walls 2'. Each flap 3 has an extension 3' folded inwardly and downwardly over one of said end walls 2 into substantially abutting relation to bottom panel l thus forming threeply end walls.

A liner element comprising 'a body panel 4 with a pair ofv upstanding opposed side walls 5 3 positioned i'iatwise on the inner faces of side walls 2 may be used to reinforce said side walls 2 and to provide a double bottom to the body section A.

Tabs 1 are formed in the outer face of marginal flaps I by slitting the inwardly and downwardly folded portion of said flap 3 to form a tab of the desired size and shape as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. This construction permits said tabs l to project upwardly parallel and above the top edge of said end walls.

This method of forming the tabs is extremely economical and eillcient and does not detract in any way from the usefulness or external appearance oi' the box; The tabs are preferably provided with a reduced width head portion 8 at its upper or free end, and with a reduced neck portion 9 at an intermediate position with respect to the height of the tab, said neck portion being preferably immediately below said head portion l. This neck portion is formed by slotting or cutting the tabs 1 inwardly from each of their respective sides.

The top member of the box B consists of a top panel I of such size and shape as to nt snugly over the bottom member A. The top panel I0 has downwardly folded side flanges ll depending therefrom, forming a rim overhanging said body member A when placed over same in closed position.

An elongated slot I2 is provided in the top member B at the juncture of the top panel l0 and a side ange Il, there being one such slot to cooperate with each of the tab elements 'I hereinbefore mentioned, each of said slots being in vertical alignment with its respective cooperating tab element so that the tab elements may be inserted therethrough to project therebeyond when the cover member is applied to the body member in closed position.

Below each of the slots I2-I2 and extending through the side wall flanges are a pair oi apertures lli-i3, said pair of apertures being spaced apart a distance that is approximately equal to the width of the tab across its reduced neck portion, so that when the tabs are inserted through said slots and are thence brought outwardly and downwardly so as to lie into superimposement substantially fiat against their respective cover anges, there will be one aperture of each pair of apertures at each side of said reduced neck portion, for a purpose about to be described.

A length of wire or other flexible or deformable material of suitable strength is initially preassembled into position so as to be carried unitary with the box top, each wire provided with a pair oi' ends or leg portions |4-I4 extending outwardly through the apertures and thence preferably deformed sufciently so that they will be retained in place without accidentally dropping out.

In case it is desired to aord ventilation for the box, the top wall I0 and the side walls 2 may be provided with Ventilating openings i therethrough, somewhat as shown.

After the bottom of the box is loaded with the commodity that is to be shipped therein, the box top is applied, and the upturned tabs at the side walls of the box are inserted through the slots |2|2 of the covers, the tabs then turned down flat against the flanges of the cover, and the ends of the wire carried by the box top are then twisted together across the neck portion of the tab. whereupon the box is ready for shipment.

If at any time it is necessary to lift the cover for inspection, or for any other reason, the wires may be easily untwisted and the tabs turned to 4 their initially vertical position to thereby permit such lifting of the cover. After such opening, the box may be quickly and easily relocked in the manner previously set forth.

As the wire is held in pre-assembled relationship with the cover, it is at hand when needed and there is no time lost in searching for said wire nor in lining it up and inserting it into the cover.

Further, as the Wire is securely held in its preassembled position, there is little or no danger that the wire may f'allv into the box of fruit or vegetables when the'cover is removed, so that there is a loss in time in fishing out or retrieving the same.

What I claim is:

l. In a box oi' the type described and in combination, a box bottom member having an upright side wall, a tab on and projecting upwardly above said wall and having a reduced neck portion, a box top member having a downturned side flange adapted to overlie said side wall when the box is closed, said top member having a slot therethrough adjacent said flange and through which said tab may be inserted and bent outwardly and downwardly to lie against the exterior of said fiange, said flange having a pair of spaced apart apertures therethrough, and a flexible wire extending through said apertures and having free ends fastenable together across said neck after said tab has been inserted through said slot and brought iiat against said flange.

2. In a box of the kind described and in combination, a box bottom member having an upright side wall, a tab projecting upwardly from said side wall and having a reduced neck portion intermediate its height, a box top member having a downturned side fiange adapted to overlie said side wall when the box is closed, said top member having slot therethrough adjacent said flange and through which said tab may be inserted and thence be bent outwardly and downwardly against the exterior of said ange, said flange having pair of apertures therethrough spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of said neck, and a flexible wire initially carried in said box top before closing the latter on said bottom member and having a pair of free ends extending outwardly through said apertures so that said free ends may be interlocked across said neck portion after said tab has been inserted to extend ouwtardly through said slot and folded substantially fiat against said flange.

3. In a box of the kind described and in combination, a box bottom member having an upright side wall, a tab projecting upwardly from said wall, said tab having an opening extending inwardly thereinto from either side to leave a reduced neck portion, a box top member adapted to be mounted on said bottom member and having a downwardly extending side flange to overlie said side wall when the box is closed, said top member provided with a slot therethrough adjacent said flange and through which said tab is receivable to be thence bent outwardly and downwardly into approximately superimposement on said flane, said flange having a pair of apertures therethrough so spaced as to lie to either side of said tab neck after the tab has been brought into said superimposement, and a bendable wire carried by said flange with its ends projecting through said apertures and whereby said ends may be intertwined across said neck to releasably hold the tab against said flange.

4. In a box of the kind described, the combination with a bottom box member having an upright side wall folded along its top to form a downturned flap, and a top closure member provided with a bounding side flange t-o overlie said side wall when the box is closed, of means for detachably fastening said members together and comprising a tab formed from the material of said flap and adapted to project upwardly beyond said upright side wall, said tab having a portion of reduced width to provide a neck intermediate the height of the tab, said flange provided with apertures therethrough spaced apart a. distance approximately equal to the width of said neck and also provided with a slot adjacent to said flange and through which said tab is adapted to project and thence be bent outwardly and downwardly to superimposement against said flange, and a wire strand having its ends inserted through said apertures from within said box top and extending outwardly through said apertures for intertwining together across said tab neck.

5. In a box of the kind described and in combination, a bottom member having an upright side wall folded along its top edge to form an inturned flap, a top closure member provided with a bounding side flange to overlie said side wall when the members are in closed relation, a tab formed from the material of said flap and foldably connected to said upright side wall so as to be able to be projected upwardly therebeyond, said tab having a neck portion of reduced width intermediate its height, said flange provided with apertures therethrough spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of said neck portion, and the uppermost portion of said flange provided with a slot therethrough of greater length than the spacing between said apertures and through which said tab is adapted to extend and be bent outwardly and downwardly to lie substantially flat against said flange, and a wire strand carried by said top closure member and held pre-assembled in the latter by having its ends inserted through said apertures and projecting outwardly therebeyond, whereby after said closure member is in closed position and the tab folded downwardly against the side flange of the top member, the projecting ends of said wire may be intertwined together across the neck of said tab.

6. In a box of the kind described and in combination, a box bottom member having an upright side wall folded inwardly along its upper edge to form an inner flap, a box top member provided with a bounding side fiange to overlie said side wall when the box is closed, a tab formed from said flap and adapted to project upwardly beyond said side wall and be foldably adjoined to the latter, said tab having a reduced neck intermediate its height, said flange provided with apertures therethrough spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the width of said neck, and the uppermost portion of said flange provided with a slot therethrough adjacent to said Ytop member and of greater length than the distance between said apertures and positioned to be in vertical alignment with said tab when the box is closed and through which said tab is adapted to be extended and thence be brought outwardly and downwardly to lie substantially flat against said flange, and a flexible wire loosely carried by said box top and held in place in the latter with its ends extending outwardly through said apertures, so that said box top with said wire so retained may be mounted onto said bottom member and the tab inserted through said slot, whereupon said tab may be folded down against said flange and the ends of said wire then brought across said neck and intertwined.

7. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said locking tabs are provided with a neck portion intermediate of their length and a rounded head of reduced width at their free ends.

8. The combination set forth in claim 1 Wherein said overhanging cover rim has apertures spaced at approximately the width of said neck portions of said locking tabs and located in said rim to fall in alignment on each side of said tabs in the closed position of said cover.

9. The combination set forth in claim 8 wherein a suitable length of pliable wire is inserted in said apertures in said cover rim with the free ends thereof extending outwardly through said apertures and twisted over the neck portions of said locking tabs when said cover is telescoped over said bottom section.

ALTER C. GEORGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 757,827 Middleton Apr. 19, 1904 1,352,833 Robinson Sept. 14, 1920 2,358,614 Arbuthnot Sept. 19, 1944 

